Chattisgarh to achieve total rural electrification by 2013 end: CM

According to reports, within six months of completion of targets of Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme, the State Government will frame a special separate scheme and send to the Centre for electrification of smaller hamlets having population less than 100 families. The aim of total rural electrification under the scheme is likely to be achieved by 31 December 2013, Chief Minister Raman Singh informed the State Assembly Thursday.

Replying the supplementary questions of Congress MLAS, Padma Ghanshyam Manhar, Amarjit Bhagat, Shakrajit Nayak and others regarding delays in replacement of small power transformers and low voltage leading to great inconvenience to villagers, the Chief Minister informed the House that Chhattisgarh Electricity Board officials usually replace transformers within one month of receiving complaint but in some cases the work is delayed due to procedural wrangling but the Government will take every step to improve the situation in the light that the state will now start getting 1500 megawatt extra power, he added.

In his written reply to Padma Ghanshyam Manhar’s question regarding status of total electrification targets under Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme, allocation of fund, implementing agencies and number of villages electrified cent percent under Sarangarh Assembly Constituency, the Chief Minister informed the House that on 9.3.2008 `6629.281 lakh was approved then as per revised estimate `6608.13 lakh was approved on 11.11.2011 and then again `6706.64 lakh was approved on 04.12.2012 for the purpose of total rural electrification in Raigarhn district of which Sarangarh Assembly constituency is also a part.

The Chief Minister informed the House that for implementation of the scheme the Centre appointed M/s NTPC Electric Supply Company Limited, a government of India subsidiary, which awarded the project to M/s Kirloskar Brothers on turnkey basis to complete the work in Raigarh district. Under the Sarangarh Assembly constituency so far 226 villages of 113 village panchayats have been electrified cent percent, the House was informed.